‘The travels of Sig. Pietro della Valle, a noble Roman, into East-India and Arabia Deserta. In which, the several countries, together with the customs, manners, traffique, and rites both religious and civil, of those Oriental princes and nations, are faithfully described: In familiar letters to his friend Signior Mario Schipano. Whereunto is added a relation of Sir Thomas Roe’s voyage into the East-Indies’ [‎371] (392/508)

A Voyage ^EAST-INDIA, &c.
is made either round or fquare, but fo thick 5 as that it never
breaks nor wears out. They have pure Goid-Coyn likewi(e 3
fome pieces of great value, but theleare not very ordinarily feen
amongd them.
I have now done with this Sedion, 'wherein I have related
much of the Commodities^and Riches^s before of the Provifions
and Pleafures which are to be found in that vaft Monarchy,, and 5
I conceive, nothing but what Truth will juftifie. And now, left
that place I have defcrib'd, (hould (eem to be an earthly Para-
dife, I muft acquaint my Reader, that the Contents there found
by fuch as have lived in thofe parts, are four'd and fauc'd with
many unpleafing things 5 which he muft needs know, when he
takes notice
SECTION IV.
Of the Difcommodiiies, Inconveniences^ and Annoyances^
that are to he found or met with all in this Empire,
AS the Poets feigned that the Garden of the Hejperzdes
(wherein were Trees tbat bare Golden Apples) was guard
ed by a Serpent: So there are flings here, as well as fruits 5 all
confidered together may not unfitly be refembled by thofe Lo^
cufts mention'd , Rev, 9. 7, 8, 10. vedes. Who had the Faces of
Men^ and the Hair of Women^ and Crowns as of Gold on their
Heads 5 bnt they had too v the Teeth of Lyons, and the toy Is of Scor
pions ^ and there were flings in thofe tayls. Here are many things to
content and pleafe the en joy ersot them, to make their life more
comfortable 5 butwithall here are Teeth to tear, and ftings to
kill : All put together, are nothing but a mixture made up
( as indeed all earthly thingslare ) of good and bad 5 of bitter
and fweet 5 of what contents, and of what contents not*
The Annoyances of thefe Countries are, firft many harmfiill
beafts of prey, as Lyons, Tygers, Wolves, Jackalls, with
others > thofe Jackalls feem to be wild Doggs, who in great com
panies run up and down in the filent night, much dilquieting
the peace thereof, by their moft hideous noyfe. Thofe moft-
ravenous Creatures will not fuffer a Man to reft quietly in his
Grave, for if his Body be not buryed very deep, they will dig
him thence, and bury as much of him again as they can confume
in their hungry bellies. In their Rivers are many Crocodiles,
and Latet anguis inherbapn the Land 3 not a few over-grown
Snakes, with other venemous and pernicious Creatures. In our
Houfes there we often fee fhaped like unto Crocodiles,
of a fad green colour, and but little Creatures, the fear of whom
prefents its felf moft to the Eye, for I do not know that they ate
hurtful. There are many Scorpions to be feen, which are
B b b 2 often-